James Van Der Beek’s sudden dying at 48 left Hollywood surprised, and it sparked a wave of generosity few might ignore.
Inside days, a GoFundMe created for his widow and 6 kids crossed $2.6 million. Huge names opened their wallets, and followers adopted.
Nonetheless, as the whole climbed, so did the questions. Why would a recognizable TV star want public donations? The reply, it seems, is much extra layered than many critics assumed.
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James Van Der Beek’s Fundraiser Drew Main Hollywood Help
The GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek’s household rapidly turned a rallying level for the trade.
Steven Spielberg contributed $25,000. Zoe Saldaña pledged $2,500 a month, whereas Jon M. Chu gave $10,000. Lyn Lear additionally donated $5,000. Others, together with Julie Plec, Ricki Lake, and Lydia Hearst, additionally generously chipped in.
The fundraiser’s speedy rise to greater than $2.6 million underscored Van Der Beek’s stature in Hollywood.
After dropping his three-year struggle with colorectal most cancers on Feb. 11, colleagues and associates clearly wished to ease the burden on his household.
To many, the donations have been an indication of affection and appreciation for an actor who had labored steadily for many years.
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Van Der Beek’s GoFundMe Sparked On-line Backlash
Nonetheless, not everybody felt snug with the marketing campaign. Some on-line commenters questioned why a star of “Dawson’s Creek” would want monetary assist.
One critic wrote, “This doesn’t sit proper with me. In no way. Positive, I get it. However hundreds of individuals around the globe face this precise scenario each day and cope with the battle.” They added, “He needed to have had life insurance coverage … and residual checks.”
The criticism grew louder after reviews urged that James Van Der Beek had secured a down fee on a Texas ranch shortly earlier than his dying.
That fueled hypothesis that he had extra money than individuals realized.
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Nonetheless, actor Mehcad Brooks pushed again forcefully, writing, “You don’t have any concept wtf you’re speaking about. You don’t have any concept the ache they went by means of. It’s okay to stfu when you’ll be able to’t know what the f-ck you’re speaking about.”
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James Van Der Beek Was Well-known However Not Extremely-Rich
Whereas Van Der Beek turned a family identify enjoying Dawson Leery, early TV contracts have been hardly ever profitable for younger actors.
At the beginning of his profession, he was reportedly paid modestly. In keeping with a Warner Bros insider, each actor forged for “Dawson’s Creek” was unknown on the time.
“Katie Holmes was forged from a house video on her kitchen counter. I can’t think about James had any factors,” they stated.
Nonetheless, salaries elevated over time, probably reaching six figures per episode in later seasons, however residual offers in that period have been typically restricted.
In an interview with Right nowVan Der Beek admitted, “There was no residual cash,” including, “I used to be 20. It was a foul contract.”
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After “Dawson’s Creek” resulted in 2003, he stayed busy. He appeared in “Don’t Belief the B—— In Condominium 23,” “CSI: Cyber,” and “Pose,” and acted in movies like “Varsity Blues” and “The Guidelines of Attraction.”
Van Der Beek additionally competed on “Dancing With the Stars” and even voiced Boris on “Vampirina.”
These jobs stored him seen, however they didn’t include blockbuster-level paydays.
Inside Van Der Beek’s Expensive Medical Battle
After James Van Der Beek’s analysis in 2023, he certified for SAG insurance coverage, which probably coated a lot of his conventional most cancers remedy.
Nonetheless, insurance coverage usually doesn’t cowl various therapies, and in line with reviews, the Hollywood star pursued each.
Chatting with The Hollywood Reportera household pal shared, “It was loads of ups and downs these previous few years.”
The pal famous that in Van Der Beek’s final 12 months, the actor tried every part to outlive, together with trying the holistic route and touring out for different choices, even when they value hundreds of {dollars}.
“He actually wished to dwell and had so much to dwell for. He fought actually, actually exhausting,” they added.
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Even so, Van Der Beek remained hopeful. Throughout an interview, he revealed that he knew from the beginning that he would flip the expertise into one thing constructive.
“After I heard the information,” he stated throughout a 2025 “Right now” interview, “I used to be like, ‘That is going to be the most effective factor that’s ever occurred to me.’”
Van Der Beek added {that a} voice advised him, “‘You’re going to make modifications in your life that you’d by no means, ever make should you didn’t have this excessive of a analysis, and it’s going so as to add wholesome, completely happy years to your life.’”
James Van Der Beek And Kimberly Renew Their Vows
Van Der Beek’s widow, Kimberly, is devastated by his dying. Nonetheless, shortly earlier than he died, the pair reassured one another of their timeless love.
As reported by The Blast, the couple renewed their marriage ceremony vows simply days earlier than he died, making a deeply emotional second that household and associates have shared publicly.
In keeping with the report, they held an intimate ceremony of their bed room at their Texas ranch, deciding simply two days beforehand to mark their dedication once more with new rings, candles, flowers, and family members close by.
Kimberly revealed that associates helped set up the “easy and delightful” occasion from their mattress, and a few friends even joined through Zoom as an instrumentalist performed music, together with “Someplace Over the Rainbow.”
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That closing act of affection and dedication stood as a poignant tribute to their 15-year marriage and the life they constructed collectively.